When you sit down with Joan, you immediately feel at ease. She speaks with the calm confidence of someone who has lived a full and fascinating life, from growing up in the Isle of Man to building a new chapter in Australia. Her stories flow easily, sprinkled with warmth, humour, and the wisdom of experience.
Joan was born in 1938 in Douglas, a seaside town in the Isle of Man, a picturesque island set in the Irish Sea. “It’s a holiday place,” she said fondly. “People come for the Tourist Trophy motorbike races.” Her parents, Josephine and Bobby, were also island-born and raised.
When the Second World War began, life changed quickly for Joan’s family. Her father, a plumber, found work in Liverpool England, and Joan and her mother soon followed. She recalled that time with surprising warmth. “We were living in the Isle of Man, but due to the war we moved to Liverpool and found a new house, joined a new school, and made so many good memories with my family over there.”
In Liverpool, Joan attended various Convent of Mercy schools before completing her education at Skerry’s College. Though she mastered shorthand, typing, and bookkeeping, skills that later shaped her working life, her favourite subject was history. “In those days, office girls were often shorthand typists,” she explained. “Someone would dictate a letter, and we’d write it down in shorthand before typing it out. I did that for most of my working life.” She remembered the job with real fondness, grateful for a career that suited her well.
In the 1960s, Joan made another major life transition, immigrating to Australia. She quickly settled into her new home, building friendships and developing hobbies that kept her active and connected. Tennis became a beloved pastime. “I played heaps after work,” she continues to enjoy going for walks and staying active with her walking club friends.
Dancing, however, has remained a lifelong passion, “I’ve always liked dancing,” she said with a smile. She first learned traditional ballroom styles, but when disco arrived, she embraced that too. Even now at SummitCare, she loves to get up and dance whenever she can.
Joan describes herself as someone who enjoys “almost everything” when it comes to food and music. She likes eating cuisines from many cultures and listens to all kinds of music with an open mind. That theme of openness flows through her personal mantra as well, “You should try to always relate to everybody,” she stated. “Treat people well no matter their education or background.”
Although Joan’s relatives remain overseas, she has built a remarkable support network in Australia. Her dear friend Salima, whom she describes as “like family,” takes her to concerts, on shopping trips, and even on a four-day cruise to Queensland. Her friend Barbara, also originally from Liverpool, regularly brings her out for lunch and shopping. Joan keeps in close touch with her cousin Madelaine in London, who updates her with stories from her extensive travels.
Life at SummitCare Randwick is full and happy for Joan. “Everyone here is so friendly,” she said. She enjoys the meals, her evening TV time, and the companionship of her roommate, Malita.
Looking back on her life across countries and chapters, Joan remains grateful for the people who have shaped her journey. Surrounded by friends, familiar faces, and a caring community, she continues to create new memories each day.
